Jyotishmati

BACKGROUND

Jyotishmati is an ancient Ayurvedic plant valued primarily for its health benefits. It is a shrub that grows at high elevation (usually above 3000 feet) primarily in India. Jyotishmati leaves have been described as having the shape of a pigeon's foot, while their fruit is said to look like a crow's egg. Oil, extracted from the fruit, is used for healing purposes (5).

Tribal systems of medicine in different regions of India have claimed the use of Jyotishmati oil in the treatment of a wide range of disorders. It is frequently used as brain tonic due to its purported effect on memory and intellect. The phytochemicals present in Celastrus paniculatus include sesquiterpenes, alkaloids, cleastrine, celapanine, celapgine, and polyalcohol (malanguinin, malkanginnol, etc.). It also contains the triterpenoid pristimerin, and sterols (β-amyrin and β-sitosterol) (16).

TRADITIONAL USES

Jyotishmati is used in Ayurveda as a bitter digestive tonic and to enlighten the mind. The fruits and seeds are used in health supplements today to support cardiovascular and mental function.

Extracts from the plant are also believed to have anti-arthritic, wound healing, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant activity (2).

Other traditional therapeutic uses include (1,3,5):

To improve intelligence

To balance Vata and Kapha

To induce vomiting

To improve digestion

To improve memory

To relieve constipation

To help with anemia and liver disorders

As a cardiac tonic

WHAT DOES SCIENCE TELL US?

Celastrus paniculatus seed oil was the most effective in preventing neuronal cells against H(2)O(2)- and glutamate-induced toxicities. Thus, in addition to free-radical scavenging attributes, the mechanism of CP seed component (CP-C) neuroprotection must be elucidated (9).

The aqueous extract of Celastrus paniculatus seeds has cognitive-enhancing properties that may be due to an antioxidant effect (10).

Celastrus paniculatus extract seems to exert a powerful myogenic and L-type Ca(2+)-dependent relaxing effect. This could explain the traditional use of this herb in the treatment of intestinal spasms (11).

SAFETY

Single oral administration of different dose levels produced no mortality or morbidity in animals during an observation period of 14 days. Cage-side observations showed no change in general appearance and morphological characteristics of animals. There were also no significant changes in body weight, food, and water intake in extract treated animals when compared with control animals (16).

No adverse events in humans have been reported in the current scientific literature. As with most herbals, however, caution is advised and use thereof should be avoided during pregnancy or breastfeeding (17).